Building column



Jan. 25, 1944 w, J McDERMOTT 1 2,340,003

BUILDING COLUMN Original Filed Feb. 3, 1940 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 LTUNITED STATES 2,340,003 6 BUILDING COLUMN William J. McDermott, Port Ontario, Canada Original application F ber 18, 1941, Serial February 8, 1939 Robinson,

ebruary 3, 1940, Serial No.. 317,163. Divided and this application Septem In Canada 2 Claims. ('01. 189-38) This invention relates to a metal frame building structure adapted for the building of homes and other similar types of small buildings, and particularly to the column used in the construction of the building frame.

This application is a division of application for Letters Patent, Serial Number 317,163 filed February 3, 1940. v

The invention comprehends the provision of a tubular sheet metal column having a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the column in radial relation to each other, each rib being formed of sheet metal having a U-shape in cross section and having the sheet metal forming the side portion of each rib merging into the side portion of an adjacent rib in the center of the column;

The invention further comprehends the construction of the sheet metal column from a flat metal strip to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, projecting in radial relation to each other and having the side portions of onerib merging, into the side portions of an adjacent rib and also having a marginal portion of the sheet of material at the opposite side edges of the strip from which the column is made, extending in superimposed contacting relation and projecting from the apex of one of the ribs, to provide for the securing of the marginal portions together in rigid relation, and to retain the sheet metal strip in tubular column forming relation. One of the pairs of ribs, extending in oppositely directed relation, has the apex portions formed with a plurality of slots to receive frame bars used in inc umn in a rigid frame structure while the superimposed margins of the strip provide an attaching flange adapted for use in securing windows, door frames, and other parts of the building structure to a column.

The invention further provides a sheet metal colunm having a flat strip of sheet metal formed with strip sections at opposite sides of the center offset laterally to the normal plane of the strip to form a pair of U-shaped ribs. The sheet metal strip is further ofiset substantially simultaneouswith the forming of the pair of ribs to provide offset marginal edges or flanges and adjacent rib sections along the longitudinal edges of the strip. Then, the central section of the strip is folded to form another U-shaped rib which causes the first mentioned ribs to move into oppositely extending relation to one another to bring the opposite edges of the strip into superimposed relation so they may be suborporating the col- 3' sequently united to form a rigid tubular column structure.

In the drawing? Figurel shows a vertical cross section through 3 a building frame construction using the column' ofthe present invention, the column being illustrated in elevation, portions being broken away for convenience in illustration.

Figure 2 shows an; elevation of the upper end portion of the column shown in Fig. 1 looking at the column from a position at right angles to that-shown in Fig. 1, the portions of the building frame connected to said shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the fiat sheet metal strip used for the formation of the column, two ofthe slots being illustrated that receive. the furring bars.

Figure 4 shows the next step in forming the strip illustrated in Fig. 3 into the column, one side ofthe strip being formed to provide one rib and the adjacent margin of the sheet having the edge offset and formed to provide part of another adjacent the ofiset margin.

Figure' 5 shows the next step in which the other edge of the sheet is formed to provide another rib and in which the opposite edge of the stripis oflfset.

'Figure 6 showsa cross section through the column in its completed form illustrating how the c'entral portion of the strip is finally formed to provide a longitudinally extending rib and complete the formation of the strip that brings the two offset side margins of the strip together in superimposed relation to form another rib and a radially projecting attaching flange extending from the outer edge thereof.

The column of the present invention is constructed in a convenient manner from an elongated strip of sheet metal or other suitable material, in the'm'anner illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive.

The column is indicated at I and is formed from a flat sheet metal strip 2 shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the cross sectional structure of the strip'which may be of any length depending upon the length of column desired. Each sheet metal strip 2 for the construction of a column 1 is first cut to proper size while still in fiat form. A plurality of transverse slots 3 are formed in two rows in spaced parallel relation about midway between the central portion of the strip and the opposite free edges. The strip is then formed by die-stamping or the like to form a longitudinally extending rib in each side of the strip column also being are formed successively, first, one in one side as shown in Fig. 4, and then the other rib in the opposite side as shown in Fig. and indicated by the numerals 4 and 5, respectively.

These ribs are formed as illustrated, so that the side portions of each rib extend in angular relation to each other and are spaced apart with each transverse slot 3 extending around the central portion or apex of the rib, and thereby providing a slot extending transversely of the rib and opening outwardly through its edge or apex.

Substantially simultaneously with the formation of ribs '4 and 5, each margin of the strip is offset as indicated at 6 from the adjacent portion of the strip.

The central portion of the strip is then diestamped to form another similar rib 1 extending, longitudinally thereof as shown in Fig. 6. As the strip is bent into U-shape to form rib I, ribs 4 and 5 are moved toward one another in such a way that they project in. opposite directions when. the formation of rib 'l is completed. In the offsetting of the marginsof the strip at 6 during the formation. of ribs 4 and 5, the offsetting operation also forms a half section of another rib indicated at 8 in Figs. 4 and 5. This half section 8 of the other rib has the marginal flange 6 extending from the edge thereof.

When the marginal portions 6 are brought into superimposed relation during the formation of rib I as above described, another rib 9 is formed on the-column by the two half sections 8. By suitably welding or otherwise permanently securing the marginal flanges 6 in superimposed relation, a tubular column is completed that is rigid and has a cross section as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the completed tubular column has four ribs extending longitudinally thereof when the column is constructed as illustrated in Fig. 6. The ribs 4 and 5 extend outwardly from the column in opposite directions so that the slots 3 are positioned on opposite sides of the column in a position to effectively and efficiently receive furring bars I!) used for constructing a building frame in the manner dis- .closed in the prior application of applicant mentioned above. It will be noted that each of the ribs is of substantial U-shape in cross section with the bottom portion of the U projecting outwardly in substantially radial relation from the center of the column while the side portions of this U-shaped construction of each rib extends toward the side portions of the adjacent ribs so that they merge together nearer the center of the column, thereby providing a plurality of radially extending ribs on the column running longitudinally between the ends.

Rib 9 formed by half sections 8 cooperates with ribs 4, 5 and 'l in producing a rigid tubular column from relatively light weight sheet metal with the radially projecting flange portions 6 secured together in superimposed relation to provide an attaching flange extending longitudinally along one side of the column.

This attaching flange is used for the purpose of having assembly brackets secured thereto for connecting two side frames at adjacent sides of a building together where the frames meet at the corner of the building. The end columns in the frame have the attaching flanges used to receive these brackets and also to receive and mount furring bars and plates in the manner disclosed in applicant's prior co-pending application above mentioned. These attaching flanges are also used to receive connections from door and window frame structures carried by and constructed in the side frame of a building using columns constructed as described above.

The column of this invention therefore provides a rigid tubular column structure obtained by the longitudinal ribbed formation of the column from sheet metal enabling the column to be constructed from flat strips of sheet metal in which a pair of the ribs project in opposite directions and are provided with attaching. slots forreceiving framing bars of a. suitable character as well as havingv another rib formed with an attaching flange to which other portions of the building structure may be secured in a convenient manner. An economical column structure that is convenient for use in metal building frame structures is therefore provided by the invention in the manner described above.

The invention claimed is:

l. A sheet metal column comprising av single sheet metal strip formed to provide a tubular, column structure having a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending portions of said. strip formed into ribs of U-shape in cross section extending radially outward relative to each other, the sheet metal strip along the sides of each rib being spaced apart andv said sides of each rib diverging from each other progressively away from each apex and having the edges of the sides of each rib merging into the edges of the sides of an adjacent rib, said strip having the side margins thereof arranged at the apex of one of said ribs and offset laterally relative to the sides of said one rib, said side margins being engaged. in superimposed coincident relation and extending outwardly from the apex of said one ribto provide a securing flange, and means permanently securing said side margins in rigid assembled relation.

2. A sheet metal column comprising a single sheet metal strip formed to provide a tubular column structurehaving a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending portions formed into U-shape to provide radially extending ribs, thesheet metal strip along the sides of each rib being spaced apart and extending in angular relation, the sides of each rib merging at the inner edges into the sides of an adjacent rib, opposite longitudinal margins of said strip. being engaged in face to face contact in superimposed relation and rigidly joined together, and portions adjacent said margins being offset in opposite directions and extending in relative angular relaticlian to merge'into the inner edges of adjacent r1 5.

WILLIAM J. MCDERMOTT. 

